Cuts in the number of staff carrying out checks on applications for firearms licences could put the public at risk, police unions have claimed.

In order to bring down the Police Scotland budget, the number of firearms inquiries officers is being halved, with uniformed officers stepping in on a temporary basis to replace permanent civilian roles.

Unison, which represents about 5,000 police support staff, said the cuts go against the recommendations of the Cullen Inquiry, published in the wake of the Dunblane massacre, which called for specialist training for those carrying out the checks.

George McIrvine, Unison branch secretary for police staff, called on Michael Matheson, the justice secretary, to abandon the target of cutting £1.1 billion from the Police Scotland budget by 2026, ahead…